Rail clamp and brace.



A. F. SHANER.

RAIL CLAMP AND BRAGE. APPLIOATIDN FILED MAB. 4, 1908.

909,032. Patented Jan. 5, 1-909.

AZberiZ TSII/a/wen vwentoz,

UNITED sTAT 'srA NT; OFFICE.

ALBERT F. SHANER, OF MUNOY VALLEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

BAIL CLAMP AND BRAGE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT F. SHANER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Muncy Valley, in the county of Sullivan and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rail Clampsand Braces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in railway railfasteners of theclamp type, the primary object of the invention being to provide asimple and effective construction of rail securing means embodyingrelatively fixed and movable clamps, the movable clamp being adapted tobear against the outer side of the rail and to brace the same throughoutthe greater portion of its vertical extent, thereby preventing outwardmovement of the rail relative to its companion rail and the consequenttendency of the rails to spread under pressure.

Another object of the invention is to provide clamping means which maybe associated with a chair or bed plate forming a support for the railor with a metallic tie, and in which the outer or movable rail clam ispivotally mounted to swing laterally into and out of engagement with therail to permit ready application and removal of the rail, and which whenmoved into clamping position will be firmly braced by the bed plate.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is aperspective view showing a combined rail chair and fastener embodying myinvention, a rail being indicated in position to be clamped in dottedlines. Fig. 2

is a top plan view of the same with the rail appearing in full lines.Fig. 3 is a crosssectional view through the rail and clamp.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a base plate adaptedto extend under the base of a rail 2 and form a seatsupport therefor,said plate being of suificient length to extend some distance beyond theopposite sides of the rail and being pro: vided in its end portions withopenings for the passage of spikes or other suitable fasteners 3 tosecure the plate to an ordinary tie or keeper 4, on which the platerests, as shown. The rail clamping devices are carried by the plate,which, in connection Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 4, 1908.

\ Patented. Jan. 5, 1909.

Serial No. 419,202.

. l therewith, forms a combined chair and fastener, two of which aredesigned in practice to be applied to each tie for supporting andfastening the two rails of the track, but it will, of course, beunderstood that the clamping devices may be mounted upon an ordinarymetallic tie. In the use of the term bed plate I therefore wish it to beunderstood that such term is to be construed as meaning either a chairplate of the type particularly shown, the top plate of a metallic tie,or any other suitable equivalent base support. One end of the plate isformed with an integral clip 5 to project over upon the inner flange orside of the base of the rail and which is shaped to conform thereto,While the other end of the plate is provided upon one side of its centerwith an upstanding lug or projection forming a bracing shoulder 6, andis formed on the opposite side of the center with a recess 7.

A movable clamp or clip 8 is employed to bear against the outer side ofthe rail. The lower portion 9 of this clip or clamp corresponds ingeneral shape to the clip 5 and is adapted to bear upon the opposite orouter side or flange of the base of the rail. The base of the clip 8beyond the portion 9'is fiat to rest upon the upper surface of the plate1, while the inner end of the plate projects upwardly above the portion9 in the form of an extension 10 having a shoulder 11 to bear againstthe outer side of the web of the rail and the underside of the head ofthe rail at their point of junction and to thus securely brace suchparts of the rail as well as to brace and hold the rail against outwardmovement. The ex treme upper end of the inner portion of the clamp is inthe form of a bracing rib or lip 12 which bears against the outer faceof the head of the. rail and supplements the bracing action of theshoulder 11. The upper face of the clamp inclines or slopes downwardlytoward the outer end of the clamp, which terminates in the form of atransverse shoulder 13 to engage the shoulder 6 and an outwardlyextending tongue 14. adapted to fit and swing within the recess 7, theclamp being pivotally connected to the plate 1 by a pivot pin 15 carriedby the plate so as to permit outward lateral movement of the clamp inone direction.

The formation of the recess at one side of the lug or shoulder 6provides a supplemental shoulder 16 arranged at right angles to theshoulder 6 and in the direction of length of the plate, 1a a When theclanip 8 is.

in position to bear against the rail, the outer face of the shoulder 13bears against the shoulder 6, while the inner face of the tongue 14bears against the shoulder 16, thus 1 bracing the clamp against outwardmov e ment and also against lateral movement in of the plate 1 andassists in securing the same in position. I

It will be understood from the foregoing description that after theplate 1 is fastened to the tie, the clamping member 8 is swung outwardto permit the rail to be placed uponthe plate 1 and engaged at one sidewith theclip 5, after which the clamp 8 is swung to closed position andsecured by the spike 18, whereupon therail will be firmly clamped to thebed plate and tie. When it is desired to remove the rail for thesubstitution of a new rail, thespike 18 is withdrawn and the clamp 8swung outward, whereupon the old rail may be readily removed and the newone applied in its place. lVhenthe parts are in clamping :position, itwill be apparent that the rail will be held from movement bothlongitudinally and laterally in'either direction and that the clamp 8will hold the rail from outward movement against the pressures andstrains -falling-thereon, so that lateral displacement and spreading oftherails of the track Will be prevented.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is A'rai'lsupport and fastenerem'bodying a bed plate having at one endbracing should'e'rs arranged longitudinally and transversely of theplate andat right angles to each other and having a recess alongsidesaid longitudinalshoulder, a clip upon said plate to engage one side ofthe base of the rail, a pivot pin on the plate projecting into therecess, a laterally swinging clip to engage the other side of the baseof the rail, said swinging clip being adapted to rest upon the plate andprovided with a shoulder to engage said transverse shoulders on theplate, and having a tongue pivotally mounted on said pin within saidrecess and adapted to bear against the other shoulder of the plate, thetongue and walls of the recess being formedto permit thetongue to swingwithin the recess, and suitable means independent of the pivotalconnection for engaging the body of the swinging clip and securing saidswin ing clip in engaging position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presenceof two witnesses.

ALBERT F. SHANER.

Witnes's'es W. S. Pous'r, l/VM. F. TAYLOR.

